Hello there!!! Yes, I've been gone for awhile but I am back. A lot has been going on in my life. My grandmother was in the hospital due to respiratory problems. I was finishing school. And added new improvements to my home. Now that I am a little grounded I am able to at least leave a little something on my blog for you to enjoy. But I do have a lot going on this next week. I am meeting with a new tutor for Spanish and starting new sessions with my personal trainer on Tuesday. Lunch with my friend JB at the Four Seasons restaurant, Art; an author reading called The Off Hour on Wednesday. And a lot of reading. 
I am currently reading:
The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, M. D.
              AND
The Memory Bible: An innovative strategy for keeping your brain young  by Gary Small, M. D.

Two amazing books to enhance my way of thinking or approaching things. So hopefully, I will have many interesting things to share with you.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend.
Luvs, Hugs & Kisses!


Brei  <3

She put what in her mouth?!

Yes, it's true. We all put things in our mouth that we shouldn't. The wrong foods, the wrong diets, the wrong vitamins and sometimes the wrong sweets.  I love keeping my body healthy. What you put in, will eventually show on the outside. Here are a few suggestions to add to your daily routine.

WATER
H2o!!!!! Not only does it keep you hydrated but it keeps your body feeling nourished and your skin refreshed. 8 glasses of water a day is the recommended amount to keep you healthy and replenished. 

EXERCISE
Work out each day. Weather it's taking a brisk walk to class or nearest park, taking your dog out, yoga or even doing what everyone else does and going to the gym. Gyms can be a bit... dirty. So if you don't have a membership or are just not into it, try these: 

• Working out at home
• Yoga or Pilates
• Taking the stairs instead of the elevator
• Hiking
• Bicycling
• A dance class or going out with friends to dance

These workouts at home are great too: Tips for a flat stomach and Get into the Groove.
For great DVDs, try these: Rockin Models, Pussycat Dolls Workout, & Carmen Electra Striptease. 
For books I would recommend: The Water Secret, Modern Girls Guide, & Skinny Bitch (yes, this book is good.)
There are plenty of things you can do throughout your day to give your body the extra jolt.

 HEALTHY DIET
Maintaining a healthy diet is very important when trying to stay fit. Sure, you can workout every single day and eat crap, still thinking that because you are working out that it has more pull over your eating habits. YOUR WRONG. Eventually, that will catch up with you. Your body needs the right nutrients. I eat about 5-6 small meals a day. Snacks included. This not only is healthier but I am able to eat the things I love in increments and not feel bloated.
Snacks I love to eat:

• Raw fruits (banana, apples, grapes, pineapple, blueberries)and veggies (carrots, cucumbers, celery, avocado, tomatoe, radish, brocolli)
• Nuts (almonds, cashews, walnuts)
• Dried fruit
• Yogurt
• Granola

 Here are some websites I love to get healthy recipes from:   

• Girl Guru: http://guru-girls.com/search/label/Recipes
• Real Beauty: http://www.realbeauty.com/health/diet/
• Ju Bella: http://jubella.com/get-your-creative-dose/cooking-recipes 

 Well, That is all that I have for now. I will be posting more on specific areas or the body, recipes and exercises. Hope this helps a little. XOXOOXOOOXO



 “The body is meant to be seen, not all covered up.”

~ Marilyn Monroe

The Days of Wine and Roses

Love.

      What is it? Where is it?

          Love. An intense feeling of deep affection.

                 Love. Love me, love my dog: If you love someone, you must accept everything about them, even their faults or weaknesses. Love is unconditional. Love is wonderful. Full of light. Feelings of butterflies tickling you all over. That warm fuzzy feeling when he brushes the hair from your face. Ahhh that intense electricity pulsing through your every pore. Rose petals and candle lit dinners. Personally, I don't care for roses. I prefer Lilies. But this is not about me. This is about LOVE! Okay, maybe it is a little about me. To be honest, when I was younger, I thought about meeting the one. It would be one of those days where we "accidentally" met. You know the story, I'm sure you've seen movies just like this scenario; My cat gets out somehow and climbs a tree. We will name this cat... Mr. Squiggles, just because he is so squiggly and cute. SO I am outside, looking for my cat, apparently not paying attention to where I am walking and in the processes I bump into this handsome stranger. Then I go about explaining how I'm sorry and was just looking for my cat..... And then it happens, our eyes meet......  BOOM!!!!! Lightening has stuck and cupids little arrow shoots me right in the buttocks. Love at first sight. Mmmm.. How joyful and serene. Then of course a "Meeeeooooow" comes out of no where. Oh no!!! And my poor kitty kat is stuck up in the tree, what shall I do?? Of course this handsome stranger, taking off his shirt so he doesn't dirty it and giving me some eye candy to enjoy while saving my cat comes to the rescue and we live happily ever after. The end.

         Ummm... *cough* Excuse me...But I don't think that's quite feasible. No. That would never happen. But I thought when I was younger, that one freaking day, my life would open up to become a fairy tale. It's not all wine and roses. Today, people are self absorbed, pretentious, and lacking in communication skills. BUT... there are some great people out there. If you love yourself then chances are you will find (or they will find you and save your cat), that amazing love that lingers in the air.

But back to the topic of love. What is love to you?

I have gone around asking this question to random people that I know to see what their thoughts of the matter were. They probably thought I was crazy. But whatever. Here are some of their replies:

"It always hurts, because love is an emotional thing. You can't rationalize it." ~Dina, 24.    
"Love is when you feel good about yourself when you are with that person." ~Jesse, 55.
"One of the reasons for living." ~ Krista, 28.
"Love is the compass necklace my boyfriend got me for Valentine's Day." ~Kaitlin, my sister, 21.
"Simple answer, Selflessness." ~Ray, 30.
"A strong positive emotion of regards and affection." ~Kudus, 23.
"You." ~ Garth, my best friend, 36.

Hmmmm... Sounds like a lot of people have some interesting ideas of what love is. Or isn't. Maybe it's like Mazzy Stars Fade Into You ? There is no wrong answer. There are so many different types of love. Love you have for your friends, family, partner, co workers, pets, and the love you have for yourself.

Someone ask me, if two people fell out of love, did I believe they could regain it again? My answer: I think that people may be able to light that fire again. Depending on the severity of the fall out. So in all honesty, I would have to hear both sides of the story before giving my advice and opinions.

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. - 1 Corinthians 13:5-7 

Paramahansa Yogananda: "To describe love is very difficult, for the same reason that words cannot fully describe the flavor of an orange. You have to taste the fruit to know its flavor. So with love."  ♥

Social Butterfly, Indeed.

Tighten Up_ The Black Keys is the song for this post. Why, you ask? Maybe if you listen to the lyrics after you read this you will understand. Enjoy.

These last couple days have been pretty amazing. I was able to hang out with people I hadn't seen in a long time and rekindle a friendship that was lost long ago. I wouldn't consider myself a flirt. More like someone who is just very charming by nature. And someone who has many friends with a majority that happen to be men. I feel that in life I must live it to the fullest, not take anything personal and never regret my actions. I always think things through. And although, some of the things I do may be frowned upon in society, at least I can say I didn't live a boring life where I looked back and wondered "what if". Or thought, "Would my life be different if I had just said yes and been more optimistic?" No, I will never look back and say that. At 25, (almost), I feel I have lived quite a life that I could eventually write a book about. Needless to say, you may not be in agreement with some of MY decisions, but at least you have something entertaining to read. Where do I start? Hmmm...Well, it all started when my mother and father got divorced. I was 3 months old and do not recall this event. But I am pretty sure after my father left and my mother started dating other men (many men), was when I started to become a "flirt". My mother has always had this certain charm about her that can be irresistible.  Beautiful, young and raising two little girls by herself (who happen to be 11 months apart) is definitely not easy. When it comes to men in there 20's and 30's, they don't want a 20 something year old woman who has two kids. Especially, two little girls who just want their parents to be together. Now you can kind of get why she jumped from man to man. Being a single parent can be complicated.  Many years later, the two little girls grew up and as adults became very different. One who was very busy with her life and not wanting much to do with men. And the other (me), has many friends and loves to be social. I consider myself to be a free spirit. Now can you see where this "flirtiness"  gets misunderstood. As I get older I feel as if I can be as blunt as I want and not give a shit what others think of me. Everyone is entitled to their own opinion and I respect that. I do not have control over any ones life or what they do, so I can not judge. I hope that you can keep that in mind while you read this. Being judgmental is not attractive. Nor is it healthy. Let me live my life, it is mine. Remember? So the point of this is that regardless of what you do in life, or where you came from.... as long as you are not hurting anyone or yourself, live your life the way you want. You are the author of your book. Ask yourself "What is the next chapter in my life? What do I want to do next?" The possibilities are endless. It's a big world out there, with many things to do. Go explore a little. And be yourself.


"Smile... it's the second best thing to do with your lips." - Anonymous

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page....

GOOD MORNING TRAVELERS YOUNG AND OLD!!!!! Today, I am going to let you in on a couple tips on how to be a great travel companion. We can all admit that at times, it can be hectic and overbearing. Or if you are optimistic, it becomes an adventure. To start with, you need to know a few things that are very important.

1. Where are you going?
2. When are you going, for how long and from what times?
3. Where are you staying, hence, where is your adventure taking you on your trip?

Once you figure out these key questions you need to book your ticket and print it out. If you don't have a printer handy you can always get your ticket from where ever you are traveling out of.

Now comes the packing. Once you figure out where it is you are going and for how long, you need to pack the right stuff. Think about the weather. What activities you are going to be participating in and places you'll be dining out at. It's not brain science to figure these things out. If you are a fashionable or even a simple person, you can figure out what you want to bring. You will need a few items that I believe are IMPORTANT. 

1. Brush brush brush. Need to keep your pearly whites clean. Do not forget your toothbrush, toothpaste, and whitening strips.
2. Keeping your skin freshly renewed and clear is a must. Facial Cleanser, Toner and Moisturizer. I use anything by Neutrogena. 
3. Traveling can dry out your skin, try Murad Pomegranate Exfoliating  Mask. They are amazing and constantly keep me looking beautiful.
4. *sniffle sniffle* Always bring Kleenex and Claritin just in case those allergies start acting up.
5. Mace. I am a single women and sometimes my ninja moves can't save me if I get myself in a scuffle. Pass the pepper, please!
6. TEA TIME. Yes, bring herbal tea with you for any occasion. I like Yogi and have been told that Yorkshire is quite pleasant.
7. Evian Facial Spray. It moisturizes, refreshes and tones. Amaaaaazing!! Comes in travel sizes so you can throw it in your purse. 

Pack light, but don't forget the essentials.
Getting to where you are going is important. I recommend being there around these times for successful departure:

• Going to the airport: 1-2 hours early
• Catching a train: 20-45 minutes early
• Catching a bus: 30 minutes early.

Last but not least, always make sure you have a smile on your face. YOU ARE GOING SOMEWHERE!!! How exciting! Well, that is pretty much it. I will writing more post about certain trips I take this year. Things to look forward to:

• Valentine's Day
• My 25th Birthday
• Hawaii
• Snowboarding
• Cooking
• What I am learning in my Spanish classes
• Finding an Inner Balance
• Beauty 101 and how to stay in shape at 25
• Finding the Perfect Guy
• Letting go of bad habits and how to turn them into positive habits

 “Twenty years from now you will be more disappointed by the things you didn’t do than by the ones you did do. So throw off the bowlines, sail away from the safe harbor. Catch the trade winds in your sails. Explore. Dream. Discover.” – Mark Twain

I love you more than all the stars.

Happy New Years Everyone!!! I hope you had an amazing Christmas with your family and loved ones. Sorry I have been gone for awhile with nothing for you to read. But life has been very unpredictable lately. I will be putting up new post each week about all kinds of topics. Starting on Monday actually. How exciting!!!  My horoscope today told me that, as a Pisces, I tend to have many balls in the air at once. And for the new year, to focus on one or two important resolutions. This is funny to me and will be a challenge. Tell me what you think about these:

1. My health. Working out almost everyday, even if it's just for 10 minutes. Drinking 8 glasses of water daily. Eating healthy and taking my vitamins.  
2. Being more punctual. I tend to be a procrastinator and I always do thing at the last minute. I can also be a little scattered. SO becoming more organized is something I need to keep in mind too. 

I have many more, of course. But for now, I feel those are the most important. I hope that everyone is working on their resolutions. And I would love to hear more of your opinions. See you next year!!!! XOXO


"There are two mistakes one can make along the road of truth....not going all the way, and not starting. " ~Buddah

Sometimes it hurts to be beautiful.

I recently discovered a new salon. It's not very far from my house and I go past it all the time. The name of the place is High Maintenance Skin care studio. They have an amazing selection of service that they provide. From facials to waxing, nail treatment to make up and body bronzing. Recently they had their annual beauty ball. Here is some info for the events they through together, just so you can get an inside look at what they do:

High Maintenance's Annual Beauty Ball, Friday November 19th, 2010, 11 a.m.-6p.m.
Please join us for a skin analysis with our skin scanner, a Yonka express glow facial with a fruit peel and a glamorous Jane Iredale makeup application. Nico Rich Trunk Show! Drinks, Nibbles, and Gift Bags*
$50 Entry Fee, $20 goes towards purchase of any products!!!!


High Maintenance Skin Care Studio, 1706 Bellevue, Seattle, WA 98122   (Capital Hill)  (206) 322-6939
Spaces are limited and fill up fast, so call today to make reservations.
*Gift bags guaranteed for those with reservations.

I went in a couple days ago, hearing from my hairdresser that this was the place to go. I had Naomi Lewis do a consultation on my face. She then did a Glow on The Go facial. She was very gentle and very good at what she did. She cared very much for my skin and gave me excellent advice on how to take care of it. Absolutely love this place. Hope you enjoy it. If not, I am sure you can find a place in your area.

‎"Imperfection is beauty, madness is genius and it's better to be absolutely ridiculous than absolutely boring." ~ M. M.